In a stunning display of dominance, the Utah Utes delivered a breathtaking performance against the Colorado Buffaloes on October 26, 2025, at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City. After a bye week and a recent victory over No. 22 Iowa State, coach Deion Sanders faced an unexpected challenge against the Utes, who controlled the game from the start.
Colorado’s Dismal First Half
The first half concluded with Colorado in a shocking deficit, trailing 43-0. The Buffaloes struggled dramatically in every aspect. Their defense surrendered 398 total yards, allowing 163 rushing yards to Utah quarterback Byrd Ficklin. Meanwhile, Colorado’s offense managed an astonishingly low -18 total yards during the same half.
First Half Statistics
| Category | Colorado | Utah |
|---|---|---|
| First Downs | 3 | 16 |
| Total Yards | -18 | 398 |
| Passing Yards | 23 | 138 |
| Rushing Yards | -41 | 260 |
| Yards Per Rush | -2.4 | 8.4 |
| Time of Possession | 11:32 | 18:28 |
Analyst Brock Osweiler expressed disbelief during the ESPN broadcast, noting that no one expected such a one-sided match, especially after Colorado’s previous momentum. In the first half, Colorado’s offense succumbed to enormous pressure, with six of their nine drives resulting in three-and-outs.
Half-Time Responses and Expectation
As the players returned to the locker room, Coach Sanders urged his team to display resilience and character. “This is about what kind of person—not even player—what kind of person do you want to be?” he stated to the media.
The college football community was abuzz with reactions about Colorado’s performance. Comments ranged from disbelief to sarcastic commentary about the team’s inability to generate offensive momentum. Utah’s commanding lead even prompted discussions about whether they were unnecessarily running up the score by continuing to push their advantage.
Looking Ahead
The Buffaloes, now faced with serious challenges, must regroup and re-evaluate their strategies moving forward. This dismal outing has raised significant questions about their season’s trajectory and the effectiveness of Coach Sanders’s approach.
As the second half approaches, fans and analysts alike are eager to see if Colorado can rebound from this devastating start. The stunning first-half performance will undoubtedly impact the Buffaloes’ strategy for the remainder of the season as they aim to recover from this setback.
